Tilia americana L.
American basswood, American linden
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Malvales Includes cacao, balsa, lime, linden, basswood, daphnes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, baobab, cotton, kapok, and many others
Family Malvaceae Includes okra, jute, cacao, hibiscus, many others
Genus Tilia Any tree of the linden genus Tilia. Probably a borrowing from a Mediterranean substrate, found also in Ancient Greek πτελέα (pteléa, “elm”) and Old Armenian թեղի (tʿełi) .
Species americana “Of or from America”
About plant names...
Bassword is native to eastern North America.
Identification: Trees are up to 80′ (24 m) tall, rarely over 100',
and roughly oval, but often very irregular in shape.
Bark is smooth and gray-green in young trees, becoming furrowed, gray or gray-brown, and fibrous.
Leaves are alternate , ovate to cordate , heart-shaped, coarsely serrate , 5-6″ (12-15 cm) long, with pinnate veins. Leaves may have light-colored, fuzzy undersides.
Flowers are in lacy clusters, creamy yellow, fragrant, appearing from April to July. They hang on long,
narrow petioles from
white leafy bracts .
Fruits are round nutlets ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter.
Online References:
Floridata.com
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Plants.ces.ncsu.edu
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm)
1/1/2012 · Big Tree Trail • Tudor Richards Natural History and Forest Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)
7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
Tilia americana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Oct 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 25 cm)
1/1/2012 · Big Tree Trail • Tudor Richards Natural History and Forest Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)
7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
Range: Zones 2-8:
About this map...
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